Brake tester



y 1930. F. s. RODE BRAKE TESTER Filed Sept. 20. 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l I/// I I I ll ATTORNEU y 1930. F. s. RODE BRAKE TESTER Filed Sept. 20, 1928 2 Shets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

Patented May 20, 1930 UNITED STATES FRA NK S. RODE, OF JEANNETTE, PENNSYLVANIA BRAKE TESTER Application filed September 20, 1928. Serial No. 307,147.

This invention relates to brake testing devices of the type employed for testing brakes on inotor vehicles and the like.

The primary object of this'invention is to provide a brake testing device of the above mentioned character adapted to be employed in an automobile garage or accessory store, whereby the brakes of a car or the brakes of different types of cars may be adapted and tested, Without necessitating a different brake testing instrument.

A further object of this invention, is to provide a device of the above mentioned character, having a detachable hub connection for adapting the brake testing-device to different types of. cars having diflerent sized hub caps and screw threaded hub projections.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a brake testing device which may be employed with accuracy While adjusting the brakes on an automobile and which may be used as garage equipment for testing brakes on all makes of automobiles.

to provide a brake testing device, which is simple in operation, having comparatively few parts to get out of order and having means-for quickly detaching or attaching the device to a vehicle wheel to be adjusted or tightened;

Other objects andadvantages of this in "ention, will become apparent during the course of the following description, forming a part of this specification and in which,

Figure 1 is a longitudinalelevational view of a devicejshowingthe same in operative position upon a vehicle wheel; a

Figure 2 is a longitudinal plan view of the device also showing the same applied to the hub of a fragmentary portion of a vehicle wheel; 7 l

Figure 3 shows the hub connecting device which may be readily detached from the hub and detached from the brake testing device; 45 Figure 4 shows a plan view of an internally threaded ring adapted to be inserted in the connecting device for accommodating differ ent threads on different makes of vehicles;

Figure 5 isa cross-sectional view on "line 55 of Figure 1, showing the manner and ar- A stillfurther object of this invention, is

rangement of the connector part associated with the vehicle hub;

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional View through line 6-6 of Figure 1 showing the spring housing device and the relation'of the registering arm therwith; and g V Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view through line 77 of Figure 1, showing the attached mechanism for holding the indicating arm in a raised position, whilethe brake testing device is being employed. I

' In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is showna preferred embodiment of invention, attention being called to Figures 1 to 7'inclusive, the numeral 10 designates a disk wheel, having the usual type of pneumatic tire 11. The disk wheel 10 is se cured to the hub portion 12 .by bolts 13 or other securing devices. The usual hub portron extension 14 is provided and is screw threaded at 15 to accommodate the hub cap orguard capp;

The above description has been outlined to set forth a wheel structure, merely for the purposes of illustrating the manner in whicl the invention is to be employed.

The invention embodies a pair of frame plates 16 and 17 having circular end disk portions 16 and having an-enlarged ferrule portion 18 at the opposite end thereof. -A handle 19 is secured in the ferrule portion 18 by rivets or screws 20 for forming grasping means to the operator. The side plateslti and 17 are secured at the disk portions by lugs 21 which are. adapted to firmly hold the side platesin' spaced relation.

The' disk portions 16 are provided with flanges 22 to form a bearing for the disk mem- 0 her 23. The disk member 23 is formed on a cylindrical enclosed wrench 24 having a plurality .of facets 25-. v Also formed on the disk portion 23 is asector indicator 26 having graduations on the arcuate portion thereof and also having a series'of ratchet teeth 27.

The sector 26 is movable between the side frame plates 16 and 1( and it is held in the position shown in Figure 1 by a coiled spring 28 suitably-housed in a spring casing 29 secured in any suitable manner tothe side plates s and .17 by bolts'indicated at 30. A

projection 31 is formed on the sector plate 26 for projecting into the coil spring 28 and thereby maintains the position of the spring 28 in respect .to the casing 29. At the opposite end of the casing is provided an obstruc; tor ortion 32 which engages the lowerend of t e coiledspring 28 for holding the same in place in respect to the casing 29.

A device35 is provided for the brake. testing implement above described, to the hub of different vehicles and includes a shank por- -tion 36 having a plurality of facets 37 to correspond to the facets on the wrench member 24.- The opposite end of the connecting device is formed into a ring 38 split as at 39 and secured together by the bolt 40 threaded through the lugs 41 and 42. The ring 38 is connected to the shank portion 36 by spider elements 43 in order to provide resiliency to the ring member 38. i

A plurality of threaded split rings 45 may be provided corresponding to the screw threadson the hub portions of different types of vehicles and they are adapted to be independently inserted in the clamping ring dicating segment 26 in place after a reading.

has been taken upon the efliciency of an automobile brake. A leaf spring 53 is secured in the ferrule portion 18 by a screw 54 for pressing the pawl into engagement with the ratchet teeth 27.

In the use of the brake testing device, the brake pedal of the motor vehicle is depressed and so held in any suitable manner at the foot pressure desired. The spanner or coni necting device 35 is then threaded upon the hub 15 of the vehicle wheel as previously de- 50 scribed, after which, the wrench member 24 isthen placed upon the end 36 of the spanner or connecting device in interlocking engagement therewith. The handle 19 is then engaged and the leverage thereof combined with the members 16 and 17 when utilized for rotating the disk portions 16 upon the wrench member 24 and durin which movement the coil spring 28 carried y the frame members 1-6 and 17 is moved toward the segment 26 leflecting compression of the s ring, a this movement continuing until the ve icle wheels 10 st art'to turn, at which time, pressure on the handle 19 is relieved and the same is held in its shifted position relative to the segment 26 by the pawl 50 carried by the handle lock- 38 as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 5. Each ing with the teeth 27 upon the end of the segment 26, thereby giving a reading of the pressure required for moving the-vehicle wheels and establishing pressure of the wheel brake, it being understood that the handle continues in its movement to the point of the brake pressure of the wheel overcoming compression of the spring 28. The handle and associated parts isreleased from its locked position relative to the segment 26 by disengaging the pawl 50 from the ratchet teeth 27 of the segment and each wheel equipped with a brake may be separately tested, it being understood that the vehicle wheel is jacked up or elevated I from the ground during the testing operation.

It is to be understood, that the forms of the invention herein shown and described are to be taken as preferred examples of the'same and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention, or the scope of the sub-joined claims. p

. Having thus described the invention, I claim 1. In a brake testing device, a pair of frame members having a handle secured to one end thereof, a disk portion sandwiched between the frame members at the opposite end thereof, said disk portion having an' indicating segment formed thereon, an enclosed wrench formed through the center portion of the disk member, a coiled sprin for holding the segment portion of theQ dis member in inoperative position, and detachable 'means for connectingthe .enclosed wrench ortion to the hub of a vehicle whereby the rakes of the vehicle may be tested.

2. In a brake testing device, a pair of frame members, a handle for said frame members at one end thereof, an inclosed wrench, rotatably mounted in the opposite end of said frame members, said enclosed wrench having an indicating segment extending between the pair of frame members, a coiled spring secured to the frame members for normally holding the indicating segment in inoperative position and against the rotation of the enclosed wrench in one direction, and means for detachably connecting the enclosed wrench member to the hub portion of a vehicle.

.3. In a brake testing device, a pair of side frame members having a' ferrule formed at one end thereof, a handle secured in said ferrule, there being a pair of disk members formed at the o positeends of said frame members, each 0 said disk members having an opening therein, an enclosed wrench received in said opening, and an indicating segment secured to the enclosed wrench, said indicating segment extending between the side frame members, a coiled spring for holding the indicating segment against rotation in one direction only with respect to the frame members, and means for detachably through the central portions thereof, an enclosed wrench rotatably mounted in said openings, an indicating segmenfformed on the periphery of the enclosed wrench and extending between the side framemembers, a coil spring secured to theside frame members for holdingthe indicating segment againstv rotation in one direction only with respect to the side frame members, means provided for holding the indicating segments against the action of the coil spring, and .,detachable means for securing the enclosed wrench to a screw threaded hub portion of a vehicle. I

- 5.- In a brake testing device, a pair of side frame members, there being ferrule portions formed at the end of said frame members, a

handle secured in between'said ferrule portions, there being a pair of disk members having openings through the central portion thereof formed at the opposite end of said side frame members, said disk members having annular flanges, an enclosed wrench rotat-able in said flanged portions, an mchcator segment secured to the enclosed wrench member, a' spring for resisting movement of the indicatorsegment in one direction, there being 'graduat-ions formed on the indicating segment for indicating the resistance of the automobile brakes, ratchet teeth formed on the opposite portion of the indicator seg ment for holding the indicating segment in position after a reading has been taken and apawl secured to the frame members for i engaging in said ratchet teeth, a connecting device having a shank portlon adapted to be received in the facets of the enclosed wrench,

and a screw threaded ring secured in the opposite end-of said connecting device for detachablyfi connecting the enclosed wrench to the screw threaded portion of a hub.

6. In a brake testing device, a pair of side frame members, a handle secured thereto, at one end thereof, there being a pair. of disk members formed onthe opposite ends of said frame members,.an enclosed wrench rotatably mounted through openings formed in the disk members, an indicating segment formed on the enclosed wrench extending between the side frame members, there being graduations formed on said indicating segments, rack teeth formed on the outer arfcuate portion of the indicating segment, a

casing secured to the centralmostportion of the frame members,a coiled spring housed therein and adapted to engage the indicating segment for holding the same against rotation in one direction only with respect to the side frame members, and a connecting device for detachably connectingt-he enclosed wrench to a screw threaded portion of a vehicle hub, said detachable connection including a shank portion adapted to be received in the enclosed wrench member, a split ring, said split ring being connectedto the shank portion by a spider arrangement, and

a split internally screw threaded ring adapted to be received in the detachable connection ring for engaging the screw threaded hub-portion of a vehicle.

7. In a brake testing device, a spanner adapted for rigid mounting upon a vehicle ,wheel hub, a socket wrench interlocked with the spanne1,-a gauge plate on the socket wrench, a. handle rotatable on the wrench and comprising a pair of spaced members straddling the gauge plate, a casing extendin'g laterally of the spaced; members, and a spring in the casing engaged with the gauge plate .to resist movement of the handle over the gauge plate to rotate the wheel against a brake pressure thereon.

'8'; In a brake testing device, a spanner adapted for rigid mounting upon a vehicle wheel hub, a socket wrench interlocked with the spanner, a gauge plate on the socket wrench, a handle rotatable on the. wrench and comprising a pair'of spaced members straddling the gauge plate, "a casing extend; ing laterally of the spaced members, a spring in the casing engaged with the gauge plate to resist movement of the handle over the gauge plate to rotate the wheelaga-inst brake pressure thereon, and 'means for holding the handle in its shifted position relative to the gauge plate.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature. v

1 FRANK S. RODE.

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